Australia just can’t get enough of the Mary Valley Scarecrow Festival!

Our grand champion winners were announced on Sunrise, Channel 7, with a live cross to Darren and Simone at Kandanga. Their group entry The gingerbread chase included multiple scarecrows and animals created by the couple and their crafty neighbours.

Radio interest has included ABC Wide Bay and Radio National and organiser Heinke Butt is dreaming scarecrows when she hits the bed, she has fielded so many questions this year!

The annual event is hosted by Mary Valley Artslink, which also manages the Art on Yabba fine art gallery in Imbil. It drives tourist traffic to the Mary Valley as day trippers take up scarecrow spotting for the month of September.

More than 40 entries have invaded the Sunshine Coast hinterland from Dagun to Kenilworth.

Judges had a hard time but eventually settled on the artistic entry by Amy Lascelles with Lady Spring in first place. You can find the scarecrow at 5 Imbil Island Rd, Imbil. Second was awarded to the Imbil Community Sports Club with There’s no place like the Bowlsy at 49 Yabba Rd, Imbil. In third place was Mary Valley Traders with Little Red Riding Hood, 93 Yabba Rd, Imbil.

This year’s fairy tales theme certainly inspired the entries and a few went the extra mile to include a story board with their scarecrow.

Mary Valley Artslink has published its popular Google map which gives you a great guide to scarecrow spotting.

Download the map here Mary Valley Scarecrow Festival | Queensland – Mary Valley Artslink

If you want to see the scarecrows, the festival runs until 30 September in the Mary Valley – where creativity grows wild.